Senior Staff Technical Program Manager - Quantum Processing Unit

About IonQ:

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

We are looking for a proven TPM with leadership and expertise in silicon device development that will focus on the Quantum Processor Devices. You will own the new product programme execution for silicon device development within our quantum computing roadmap, will be responsible for the successful execution of new product development programs: translating complex technical work into clear plans, measurable milestones, and predictable delivery. As a TPM, you’ll be at the centre of a cross-functional team, working day-to-day with physicists and engineers, and partnering closely with external suppliers and internal stakeholders; to ensure work progresses with pace, clarity, and high attention to detail.

You will be working directly with the lead TPM and serve as a QPU cross functional program liaison with other technical and non-technical organizations across the company. You’ll create and run the operating rhythm that keeps teams aligned and leaders informed: building delivery plans, tracking dependencies, surfacing risks early, and producing decision-ready reporting that senior stakeholders can trust. Responsibilities will also include project planning, coordination, risk management, and stakeholder management. When priorities shift or technical issues emerge, you’ll drive structure into ambiguity; clarifying scope, coordinating trade-offs, and pushing problems to resolution while continuously improving how we execute across the hardware lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

• Lead silicon device development programmes (or workstreams), owning scope, schedule, resources, budget, dependencies, and stakeholder alignment using best-practice PM tools.

• Translating progress, risks, and trade-offs into clear, executive-ready reporting for senior stakeholders.

• Drive cross-functional execution across physics, engineering, and partner teams; identify blockers early and take issues to closure with robust risk mitigation and contingency planning.

• Partner with device designers, physicists, and engineers to ensure designs are feasible, buildable, and aligned to programme milestones and deliverables.

• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills, able to align technical and non-technical stakeholders and drive decisions through competing priorities.

• Establish programme cadences and executive reporting (dashboards, status, decision logs), ensuring senior leaders have accurate, timely, decision-ready information.

• Support continuous improvement of engineering workflows across the hardware lifecycle.

You’d be a good fit with:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Physics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field. Advanced degree preferred.

• 13+ years’ experience as a Technical Program or Programme Manager delivering complex hardware programmes, ideally in chip design, silicon devices, or semiconductor manufacturing.

• Comfortable operating in a highly technical environment, and being a technically fluent TPM who can bring structure, pace, and precision to complex silicon device programmes.

• Thrive in ambiguity, building trust quickly, and creating the delivery rhythm that keeps multiple workstreams moving across sites and time zones.

• Hardware programme experience and a sharp analytical mindset. Able to spot inconsistencies, interrogate data, and turn messy reality into an accurate plan, a credible forecast, and a practical set of next actions. Not just coordinating, but driving outcomes, unblocking teams, and raising the bar on how programmes are run.

• Highly analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving ability and confidence managing risk, dependencies, and changing scope in fast-moving environments.

• Comfortable with modern programme tooling and ways of working, for example Jira, Confluence, Smartsheet, and GitHub, and motivated by the mission and pace of quantum computing.

You’d be a great fit with:

• In depth knowledge of semiconductor design and fabrication processes

• Working knowledge of semiconductor packaging and testing flows

Location: This role can be based in College Park, MD (US) or in Oxford, England (UK).
Travel: Up to 20% in the US and Europe.
Job ID: 1435

The approximate base salary range for this position in the US is $145,920- $191,047 (USD). The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.

IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!

At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!